Neil Young to take part in digital rally for Bernie Sanders

As major US cities start to enter lockdown amid COVID-19 fears, Bernie Sanders' upcoming rally is set to take an unprecedented form – as an online-only digital rally, featuring appearances from musical guests Neil Young, My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James, Daryl Hannah and the Free Nationals.

The Bernie 2020 Digital Rally is set kick off at 19.00 ET (23.00 Irish time) on March 17, and will be available to view online here. The rally takes place ahead of primary elections in Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio.

Last week, Neil Young officially endorsed Sanders – joining celebrities Jack White, Ariana Grande, Cardi B, The Strokes and Bon Iver in supporting the Democratic presidential candidate.

"Every point he makes is what I believe in," Young revealed in a statement published to his personal website. "Every one. In 2016, if Bernie had run instead of Hilary Clinton, I think we would not have the incompetent mess we have now."

In a statement about the upcoming digital rally, Jim James also praised Sanders: "There are so many of us that just want to find common ground with all living beings so that we can move forward together as a world to live in peace, good health, and equality. Bernie speaks and lives the truth and has worked his entire life fight for truth and justice – bringing people together for the common good and that is why I believe he can help unite us now."

Musicians closer to home have also expressed their support for Sanders.

“His policies, from a European standpoint, are not radical,” Hozier recently told Hot Press. “He’s talking about providing healthcare to people. He’s talking about third-level education. From the perspective of a European social democracy, there’s nothing crazy or radical about what he’s doing. I would love to see the American people have a President who would fight for offering those things for them. They deserve no less.”